Protective effect of Theobroma cacao on nitric oxide and endothelin-1 level in endothelial cells induced by plasma from preeclamptic patients: In silico and in vitro studies

Introduction: Pre eclampsia is a complication of pregnancy and research has suggested that there is a decreased risk for pregnant women if cocoa is consumed during second and third trimesters. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Theobroma cacao is able to modulate nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) level as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in endothelial cells (EC) exposed to plasma of preeclamptic patients. Methods: Endothelial cells (EC) were divided into six groups, which included a control (untreated); EC exposed to plasma from normotensive pregnant women (PNP), EC exposed to plasma from preeclamptic patients (PP), PP in the presence of T. cacao (PP + TC) at the following three doses: 25; 50; and 100 ppm. In silico was performed using the Hex 8.0 software, software LigPlus, and LigandScout 3.1. Analysis of the NO level was done spectrophotometrically. Analysis of ET-1 level was done by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technically. Results: Catechin, riboflavin, and theophylline can interact with eNOS. Caffeine, niacin, riboflavin, theobromine, and theophylline can interact with the enzyme arginase. The level of NO was significantly lower in the PNP group and the PP group compared with the control group (p < 0.05), but the difference was not significant in these two groups (p > 0.05). This decrease in NO was significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated by all doses treatments of T. cacao extract. Plasma from PP significantly increased ET-1 levels compared with untreated cells. This increase in ET-1 was significantly attenuated by the all doses of the extract (p < 0.05). Conclusion: T. cacao extract increases NO and decreases ET-1 level in endothelial cells induced by plasma from preeclamptic patients. Therefore, this may provide a potential natural therapy for attenuating the endothelial dysfunction/activation in preeclampsia. (C) 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.